CAN bridges and CAN gateways are infrastructure components with which complex network structures can be implemented.

A CAN bridge can connect CAN or CAN FD networks of different bit rates or protocols with each other. It is based on the store-(modify)-forward principle where CAN / CAN FD messages are received by a sub-network and then transmitted to the other sub-network. Translation and filter rules can also be used, allowing a protocol adaptation to be carried out between the sub-networks. Unlike the CAN / CAN FD repeater, the CANbridge enables the enlargement of the maximum network size so that the sub-systems are fully self-sufficient with regard to bus arbitration. Independent of each other in terms of their real-time behavior, CAN sub-networks connected by bridges are to be regarded as independent networks.

The bridge function can also be executed with the aid of other transmission systems. For example, the CAN-Ethernet-CAN bridge is connected via two Ethernet-TCP/IP gateways which enable connection to remote CAN / CAN FD networks.

As an extension to the CAN bridges, CAN gateways allow for access to CAN networks via other communication systems. In each case, the protocols of the connected bus systems are mapped to the other communication model.

Application samples: